Ukrainians tour SF College's police academy

A contingent of Ukrainian legal professionals spent a week in Gainesville, wrapping up their visit Friday at the college's Institute of Public Safety.

By Jackie AlexanderStaff writer

Inna Vladyslavivna Rafalska leaned over the patient Friday at Santa Fe College's Kirkpatrick Center.“There's no pulse,” she said before beginning compressions for CPR.

A contingent of Ukrainian legal professionals spent a week in Gainesville, wrapping up their visit Friday at the college's Institute of Public Safety.The group visited as part of the Library of Congress' "Open World" program. The group observed court proceedings, met federal and state judges and toured the jail. At the Kirkpatrick Center's Institute of Public Safety, the group was able to observe where and how officers are trained.Instructor Michael Hillhouse explained while the lawyers gathered around that he could simulate almost any kind of medical emergency.“It's not even remotely related to their field,” said program adviser Louis Kalivoda, “and they're fascinated.”Gainesville Police Department Officer Justin Poirot and pilot Greg Thompson showed the group law enforcement in action. They were scheduled to show off one of three helicopters in the county when they were called away to assist in a high-speed chase.“Did you catch them?” asked Oleksandr Mykhaylovych Drozdov, a law professor.Poirot said a man driving a black Corvette attempted to avoid being pulled over. With the helicopter flying above, officers were able to track the man down and apprehend him.SWAT team members also showed their gear along with the Alachua County Sheriff's Office armored vehicle.Rafalska, head of the Council of Lawyers of Ukraine, grabbed a bulletproof vest but quickly dropped it with a thud. Those vests weigh more than 40 pounds, officials said.The visitors also were allowed to shoot several weapons at the firing range. “Here comes the fun part,” Kalivoda said.On the firing range, Rafalska wasn't as hesitant.“I think we have a sharp shooter,” said Daryl Johnston, the institute's director. Rafalska explained that when she entered high school, all students were trained to fire a gun.Dmytro Filipenko, an information analyst at Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University, said the equipment used in Gainesville probably rivals that of the Ukrainian military.“We don't use helicopters for search purposes,” he said.Sitting in on a jury trial was a new experience, he said. While Ukraine allows for jury trials, they aren't used, he explained.“We will have a new criminal proceedings code within two weeks based on the proposals of various commissions and American experts,” he said. “We got a helicopter view of the issues with the new criminal code.”As the group walked the halls at the Kirkpatrick Center, Kalivoda pointed out one name in the 1973 graduating class: Sheriff Sadie Darnell.Pavlo Serhiyovych Lutsyuk, chair of an attorney qualifying board, was curious about her time at SF College.“Do you think the sheriff will remember you guys gave her an F?” he asked jokingly.